Today's match was anticipated by everyone to be a clash of titans.
The reigning champion versus the previous tournament's quarter-finalist, a matchup that stirred the emotions of all spectators.
Of course, even among the strong, there are distinctions. In the eyes of the audience, the outcome of this match was already decided. The strength of Just Sky Academy would only make the match more thrilling.
In the waiting area of Shrek Academy, the same seven members who had participated in the previous matches were present. The three main team members still hadn't shown up.
"Are their injuries still not healed? It seems Shrek is really going to be stopped here."
After learning the true strength of Shrek Academy's seven-member team from Liuxing, Xiao Hongchen and the others had lost hope in Shrek.
Four Soul Ancestors, one Soul Elder, and two Great Soul Masters against Just Sky Academy's three Soul Kings and four Soul Ancestors, how could they possibly win?
It seemed like Just Sky Academy had a sure victory. This was different from the previous matches; Just Sky Academy was no pushover. Even if their Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy faced them, they would have to take it seriously.
Wang Yan, in Shrek Academy's rest area, also had a grim expression, clearly lacking confidence in his students.
They were just unlucky to face the previous tournament's quarter-finalist so early. If they had more time for Ma Xiaotao and the other two to recover from their injuries, they wouldn't be in such a dire situation.
Time slowly passed, and the sun rose high in the east, its warm rays dispelling the morning chill.
Star Luo Emperor Xu Jiawei also ascended the city wall. Seeing Shrek Academy's lineup, he was taken aback.
"What is Shrek Academy thinking? Aren't they afraid these kids will be demoralized and never recover?"
As the host, the Star Luo Empire had access to the participants' information. While soul power levels were confidential and didn't need to be disclosed, age and names were required.
Xu Jiawei was well aware of the overall age of Shrek Academy's team.
The oldest was only fourteen, and the rest were twelve!
Letting them participate in the earlier matches could be seen as training, but pitting them against Just Sky Academy, a previous quarter-finalist, was like throwing eggs at a stone. Was Shrek Academy really that confident?
Unaware that Shrek Academy was backed into a corner, Xu Jiawei could only speculate.
As for Huo Yuhao's six-ring cultivation and 100,000-year soul ring, and Wang Dong's six rings, did he really believe it? He was, after all, a Titled Douluo with basic discernment.
Although he was initially shocked, after three matches, he had seen through the facade.
After three matches, anyone with a keen eye could see Huo Yuhao's bluff.
Of course, even so, he was still very interested in Huo Yuhao. After all, being able to deceive most people in a live broadcast across the continent was a skill in itself.
Soon, the referee took the stage and activated the sound amplification soul device.
"Third round of the group stage, Shrek Academy versus Just Sky Academy. Please enter the waiting area, and the team captains come up to draw lots."
Like Shrek Academy, Just Sky Academy hailed from the Heaven Soul Empire. Unlike the independent Shrek Academy, Just Sky Academy was a long-established institution in the Heaven Soul Empire, second only to the Royal Academy, Di'ao Academy.
Among the three original Douluo countries, the Heaven Soul Empire was the most resistant to soul tools.
Thus, Just Sky Academy was even more extreme than Shrek Academy, with no distinction between the Martial Soul Department and the Soul Tool Department, they didn't have soul engineers at all.
In terms of nurturing soul masters, Just Sky Academy was among the top in the continent.
At least in this aspect, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy couldn't compare to Just Sky Academy.
The captain of Just Sky Academy who came up to draw lots was a handsome young man who looked about twenty years old. In terms of appearance, he was on par with Xiao Hongchen, only slightly inferior to Liuxing.
"Ye Wuqing, nineteen years old, Martial Soul Golden Leaf, level 58 Soul King. If not for Just Sky Academy's lack of resources, he could have broken through to Soul Emperor before twenty."
Elder Ma explained Ye Wuqing's background to Liuxing and the others.
It was widely acknowledged on the continent that breaking through to Soul Emperor before twenty guaranteed becoming a Titled Douluo.
And Ye Wuqing had that potential.
As the team captains, Ye Wuqing and Bei Bei finished drawing lots, the referee announced, "The drawing result: Shrek Academy versus Just Sky Academy, two-on-two, two-on-two, three-on-three battles."
Hearing this result, Xiao Hongchen and the others exchanged glances. If they had drawn a team battle, Shrek Academy might have had a sliver of hope. But now, Shrek Academy was facing a dire situation.
Liuxing narrowed his eyes. He still couldn't believe that Huo Yuhao, with his protagonist aura, would lose before facing him and Liu Yin.
Could it be that in the original timeline, Shrek Academy didn't face Just Sky Academy? Was it the butterfly effect caused by him and Liu Yin?
In Liuxing's view, this battle was even more challenging than Tang San leading Shrek Academy against the Spirit Hall Academy.
The Spirit Hall Academy and Just Sky Academy had similar lineups, both featuring three Soul Kings and four Soul Ancestors.
However, the difference was that Just Sky Academy's three Soul Kings had higher levels, while the Spirit Hall's Hu Liena and Xie Yue possessed a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, equivalent to a Soul Emperor.
But back when Tang San's generation of Shrek Academy competed, they at least had a full team of Soul Ancestors.
The current Shrek Academy, however, only had four Soul Ancestors, and the protagonist, Huo Yuhao, was merely a Great Soul Master.
No matter how you looked at it, Shrek Academy seemed destined to lose.
But regardless of what Liuxing and the others thought, the match had to go on.
Soon, under the referee's signal, Just Sky Academy and Shrek Academy both sent out their first two participants.
Just Sky Academy sent out Soul Ancestor Yang Yifan and Soul King Yu Mengdi, while Shrek Academy sent out two Soul Ancestors, Xu Sanshi and Jiang Nannan.
As the referee announced the start of the match, both sides released their Martial Souls.
Seeing the pure white wings and the massive angelic projection behind Yu Mengdi on the field, Liuxing and the others turned their gazes toward Ye Guyi.
Their eyes clearly conveyed the question, "Is she your relative?"
Ye Guyi's face darkened as she snapped, "I don't know her. Besides, although her Martial Soul is also an angel, it's different from mine. She only has the light attribute."
Yu Mengdi's soul ring configuration was two yellow, two purple, and one black, the standard optimal soul ring arrangement.
This made her far more challenging to deal with than Shen Ce, whom Ye Guyi had never fought before.
While ordinary spectators might not notice Shrek Academy's issues, how could Just Sky Academy miss them? As a result, Just Sky Academy wasn't intimidated by their opponent being Shrek Academy. Instead, they were filled with excitement.
The opportunity to defeat the continent's number one academy, Shrek Academy, in front of the entire continent's audience had fallen into their laps. How could they let it slip away?
Although Just Sky Academy knew that this team wasn't Shrek Academy's main lineup, so what?
As long as they represented Shrek Academy, they were Shrek Academy. Defeating them would make Just Sky Academy the first to beat Shrek Academy in ten thousand years.
This glory was immensely important, both for Just Sky Academy and for the individuals themselves.
Just Sky Academy wasn't like the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, stuck in the awkward position of being the perpetual runner-up.
Thus, Just Sky Academy had prepared thoroughly for this match, and they were determined to win the first round.
However, the outcome of the first match took everyone by surprise.
During the match, Xu Sanshi's Martial Soul briefly evolved into the Black Tortoise, and with an overwhelmingly domineering display, he teamed up with Jiang Nannan to defeat Yang Yifan and Yu Mengdi, securing a victory for Shrek Academy.
"Divine beast bloodline? The Black Tortoise."
Xiao Hongchen's expression turned grim. His Martial Soul, the Three-Legged Golden Toad, was also a divine beast bloodline, and he had always taken pride in it. But now, Shrek Academy also had a divine beast bloodline. No wonder he looked so displeased.
Liuxing nodded. This was more like it. How could the protagonist's team not have some cheats? A divine beast bloodline was no less impressive than an ultimate Martial Soul. His and Liu Yin's fourth soul rings came from soul beasts with divine beast bloodlines, and the power of the Solar Golden Winged Flame was a testament to the strength of divine beast bloodlines.
Among divine beasts, there were stronger and weaker ones. The Black Tortoise was undoubtedly one of the top-tier divine beasts, far surpassing Xiao Hongchen's Three-Legged Golden Toad.
Xiao Hongchen's Martial Soul quality was considered top-tier in the Sun Moon Empire, but compared to the Martial Souls of Shrek Academy's members, it didn't hold much of an advantage.
No wonder the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy had been suppressed by Shrek Academy for thousands of years.
In this world of Martial Souls, the quality of a Martial Soul represented many things, and Shrek Academy's overall Martial Soul quality was superior to that of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
"Two-on-two, three-on-three match. First round, Shrek Academy wins."
When the referee announced the result, his tone was filled with disbelief.
After all, a Soul King with a 10,000-year soul ring had lost to a Soul Ancestor. It could only be said that this was the prowess of Shrek Academy's students.
Xu Sanshi's on-the-spot Martial Soul evolution and his defeat of Yu Mengdi, who possessed a top-tier Martial Soul and combat power at least comparable to a peak Soul King, was like pouring a bucket of cold water over Just Sky Academy's heads.
Their fervent fighting spirit was instantly dampened by half.
The entire Just Sky Academy team's expressions turned gloomy. Their hope of defeating Shrek Academy had been shattered in an instant.
For the second match, Shrek Academy sent out Xiaoxiao and He Caitou, while Just Sky Academy sent out Tang Xiaolei and Xue Lang.
Looking at the dark-skinned figure named He Caitou on the stage, Liuxing felt a hint of confusion. He couldn't shake the feeling that this big, dark fellow seemed familiar.
Dark skin was usually a hallmark of the Sun Moon Empire, and coupled with the fact that He Caitou was a soul engineer rather than a soul master, if he hadn't appeared in Shrek Academy's lineup, no one would have doubted he was a member of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
Unfortunately, Liuxing's Flaming Pupils could only see through illusions, not penetrate disguises. He couldn't tell if He Caitou's appearance was his real one.
As the referee announced the start of the match and both sides released their Martial Souls, the arena erupted in an uproar.
Because Xiaoxiao, who had previously displayed six soul rings in earlier matches, now had only two lonely yellow soul rings on her body!